The York County Planning Commission says it favors establishing performance standards for agricultural operations — namely oyster farms — rejecting two of the three options that the Board of Supervisors asked it to study.

The county has been in a long, drawn-out legal battle with two at-home oyster farmers, who the state Supreme Court ruled must get permits to continue their operations. With a change in state law taking effect Jan. 1 that removes the county's ability to require these permits, it is scrambling to come up with a way to oversee these operations in residential districts.

So the supervisors asked its planners to look at three options: strike agriculture and aquaculture completely from residentially zoned districts; create a new residential district that does not allow either practice; or establish standards such as minimum lot size, setbacks and buffering for such operations.

The commission, during a work session Wednesday, said it doesn't favor either the first or second option.

Inside the Industry

Senate sees solution to discharge rule

Submit your working waterfront proposal

The National Working Waterfront Network is now accepting abstracts and session proposals for the next National Working Waterfronts & Waterways Symposium, taking place Nov. 16-19 in Tampa, Fla. The deadline is Tax Day, April 15.

About Us

Advertise

National Fisherman

National Fisherman has been the industry standard for over 50 years. Readers from coast to coast depend on it to stay up to date on news, regulations, fish stocks, to research purchasing decisions and to stay informed of the newest vessel and product technology.